The cost of living in Ireland depends on where you study and the type of accommodation you choose. The cost of living in Dublin excluding tuition fees ranges from € 8,000 to € 12,100, including accommodation rent, electricity, meals, books, laundry, medicines, transport and entertainment expenses.
According to the latest news, the cost of living in Ireland is now 8% cheaper compared to 2008, but tuition fees have increased by 10%.
Accommodation
The cost of living outside of Dublin is lower, with accommodation costing €7,803 per year, excluding electricity, water, and so on.
Winters in Ireland are quite cold. You will need to set aside around € 57 to € 140 per month for heating costs. The cost of electricity in winter is also higher, as the sun rises at 8.30 am and sets at 4.30 pm. So, the lamp usage time will be longer during winter.
Transportation
Transportation costs depend on where you live. You can use public transportation or cycling. Ireland’s highways have many designated lanes for cycling. A one-way bus ticket is usually purchased for € 1.25. But you can buy weekly or monthly tickets at a discount if you show your Student Travel Card. More information about transportation can be found on the Dublinbus website.
Read also: 6 Educational Tourist Places You Must Visit in Ireland
Entertainment
Ireland is famous for its music which attracts the attention of many tourists. You can easily find musicians on the streets of Ireland. You can get more information in Time Out’s guide to Dublin.
Ireland’s official board of tourism also provides a lot of information about fun activities you can do while studying in Ireland. Your university will also provide various information about entertainment around your residence on a bulletin board.
The estimated cost of entertainment in Ireland is:
- Cinema tickets € 7.50 and € 12
- Entrance to the nightclub € 7 – € 15 (depending on the venue)
- Beer (1 pint)/ glass of wine in Dublin € 4.50
- You can get a discount by showing your student card.
As a full-time student, you can get discounts at certain restaurants and shops. You can also make an internationally known International Student Identity Card (ISIC). ISIC will prove your status as a full-time student, and you can get one at most colleges or universities.
Food
Including meals on campus or in inexpensive restaurants, you will probably be spending around €70 – €100 per week on the items below. You can save by buying in bulk.
- Milk € 1.22
- Bread € 1.69
- Butter (500 g) € 1.80
- Sugar (1 kg) € 1.99
- Coffee (200 g) € 3.99
- Tea (160 tea bags) € 6.19
- Coca Cola (2 L) € 1.69
- Big Mac at McD € 6.30
Health
As a student in Ireland, you will be required by the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Services to have valid health insurance while you are studying in Ireland.
However, if you become an Irish resident within a year, you can expect to receive the same medical services as Irish citizens. If so, you will need €100 for each trip to the hospital in case of an accident or emergency. €75 is charged for hospitalization per day, up to a maximum of €750 for the first ten days.
Hospitalization for more than ten days is free of charge. You will not get this privilege if you are in Northern Ireland or another European Union country. For more detailed information, you can visit the HSE (Health Service Executive) website. This health service does not apply to students from non-EU countries and taking study programs that last less than one year.